• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2018

Modern countries have almost ratified the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and are creating environments to prevent discrimination against these individuals. In 1996, the International Maritime Organization presented a recommendation for the design and operation of passenger ships to respond to elderly and disabled persons' needs. In Korea, an act on the promotion of transportation convenience for mobility disadvantaged persons has been implemented, and facilities for the disabled have been rapidly installed in ships, vehicles, aircraft, railways and passenger terminals. However, the maritime transport environment is less concerned about disabled persons than safety. In this study, basic research was conducted to improve the maritime transport environment for disabled people in Korea through a field survey and literature survey. As a result, it was found that relevant laws and regulations have not been properly applied to excursion ships and ferries as well as small-scale ports, which are responsible for a large part of coastal passenger transportation. In addition to low installation rates of facilities for the transportation of persons with disabilities in ships and terminals, loose equipment was also considered. Therefore, it is necessary to protect the human rights of persons with disabilities, which are universal values of humanity, by complementing laws and introducing improved facilities.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.389-399
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• 2020

Diverse official policies in community are available for caregivers to take care of the elderly in the US and the UK. This study aims to examine the recent changes in government supports based on The Recognize, Assist, Include Support and Engage (RAISE) in the US, and those by Carer Act 2014 in the UK, to take any good lessons for Korean policy. Caregivers will play a new role to develop innovative treatment for patient-centered care. The UK strengthens to provide various efforts for working carers while assuring economic efficiency in labor market with empirical evidence. The major four ways to support carers were developed agreed with the acknowledge of caregiving value and their human right; financial support, direct services for carers, flexible work time, and advocacy. Korean supports policies for carers in long-term care and social welfare will be more effective in community care system if more evidence based policies are prepared.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2022

A survey was conducted to investigate the conditions of meal management and the use of thickening agents for dysphagia in long-term institutions and welfare centers in Korea. The online questionnaire for the survey comprised six questions on the general characteristics of subjects, 16 on meal management, 10 on dietitians' knowledge, and 30 on dietitians' perceived performance and importance of meal management for dysphagia. The complete data from 268 questionnaires were analyzed, and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) was conducted. The results of the survey indicated frequent, "difficulties due to no specific guidance on managing dysphagia meal," "lack of caregiver understanding of the importance of dysphagia meal," "lack of opportunity and time for meal education/counseling," "difficulties with management due to dietitians' lack of experience and awareness of dysphagia," and "limited understanding of cooking staff in preparing dysphagia meal." Importantly, these five parts were categorized in the low-priority region in an IPA of the performance.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.22-33
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• 2009

This study was undertaken to provide a basis for planning trail standards, providing rights of movement, improvement of health and the experience of nature for at-risk walkers for application to the Umyen Park site. This study researched related laws, manuals, scholastic writing and the established site, a raku-raku mountain trail in Osata, Japan. By referencing these results and similar standards, a conceptual trail plan for at-risk walkers was created. The plan suggests five points -- accessibility, convenience, social aspects, economic efficiency, and environmentally-friendliness -- and referenced an evaluation of outdoor living environments for the elderly. The planning standards are comprised of four steps that are ranked in order and are related to the selection of location, trail structure, route patterns, and equipment. Plans for trails catering to at-risk walkers in Umyen Park were then based on these standards. As a result, it was found that the mountain has both a high elevation and abundant natural resource, both of which must be taken into account during planning. This study is valuable because it is one of the first studies of trail plans for at-risk walkers made in mountainous urban parte. Subsequent research can use the standards of this study for further evaluation while future modifications must reflect changing needs and details.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.558-567
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate recognition, dietary attitude and education needs for reducing sodium intakes of dietitian at customized home visiting health service (CHVHS). Methods: The subjects were 75 dietitian at CHVHS. We investigated several variables (recognition, dietary attitude, education needs for reducing sodium intakes) and determined sodium intakes level of subjects as 'low', 'middle' and 'high' by Dish Frequency Questionnaire 25 (DFQ 25). Also, we assessed the differences in recognition, dietary attitude, sodium intake level and education needs by dietitian career period (under 3 yrs vs. over 3 yrs) at CHVHS. Results: In recognition related reducing sodium intake, they showed 'checking a sodium content in nutrition labeling' score 2.5/4.0 and 'perception difference between sodium and salt' score 3.1/4.0. There was no difference in the recognition between under 3yrs' group and over 3yrs' group. In dietary attitude related reducing sodium intake, they showed 'palatability for salty taste' score 0.8/1.0, 'attitude in related soups' 0.7/1.0, 'attitude in related using natural spice' 0.6/1.0. There was a difference in 'attitude in related soups' between under 3yrs' group and over 3yrs' group (0.6 vs. 0.7). In sodium intake level by DFQ 25, they showed 'low group' 41.3%, 'middle group' 41.3% and 'high group' 17.3%. There was no difference in the distribution of sodium intake level by the career. In education needs related reducing sodium intakes, there were 'teaching experience' 93.3%, 'have a difficulty in teaching about reducing sodium intakes' 86.6%, and 'necessity of education for CHVHS dietitians' 100.0%. 'Needed education contents for CHVHS dietitians' were ranked as 'cooking way to reduce sodium intake' 58.7%, 'relation between hypertension and sodium' 17.3%, 'composing way to reduce sodium intake' 17.3%. There was a difference in needed education contents 'relationship between hypertension and sodium' (33.3% vs. 2.6%) and 'The cooking way to reduce sodium intake' (38.9% vs. 76.9%) by the career. Conclusions: The results suggested that a capacity training program for reducing sodium intake may be needed for dietitians at CHVHS to improve health of the community elderly. For effective training program related reducing sodium intake for dietitians at CHVHS, it may be necessary to consider the career period as dietitians at CHVHS.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.405-415
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• 2019

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of frailty with perceived neighborhood walkability and environmental pollution among community-dwelling older adults in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 808 community-dwelling men and women aged 65 years and older in 2 rural towns. Comprehensive information, including demographics, socioeconomic status, grip strength, polypharmacy, perceived neighborhood environment (specifically, walkability and environmental pollution), and frailty, was collected from participants using face-to-face interviews conducted between June and August 2018. Perceived neighborhood walkability was measured using 20 items that were selected and revised from the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, the Neighborhood Walkability Checklist from the National Heart Foundation of Australia, and the Physical Activity Neighborhood Environment Survey. The Kaigo-Yobo Checklist was used to assess participants' frailty. Results: The overall prevalence of frailty in this community-dwelling population was 35.5%. Sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, grip strength, and polypharmacy were significantly associated with frailty. In the logistic regression analysis, frailty was associated with low perceived neighborhood walkability (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.881; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.833 to 0.932; p<0.001) and severe perceived neighborhood environmental pollution (aOR, 1.052; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.087; p=0.003) after adjusting for sex, age, cohabitation status, educational attainment, employment status, monthly income, grip strength, and polypharmacy. Conclusions: More studies are warranted to establish causal relationships between walkability and environmental pollution and frailty.

• The Journal of Korean society of community based occupational therapy
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 2018

Objective : This study conducted a preliminary study to develop a occupational therapy model focused on improving living functions within the community care system. Methods : From June to July, 2018, the literature on community care was researched, focusing on cases of Japan's Management Tool for Daily Life Performance (MTDLP), Sweden, United Kingdom, Germany and domestic S Elderly Care Centers and I Health Centers. Based on this information, a group of experts developed a occupational therapy model within the community care system. Results : Assessment tools such as occupation-based health promotional table, interest checklist, occupational goals for improving living functions, sheet for evaluation of living functions, survey of daily life time (weekday and weekend), and sheet for transition of living functions were developed to conduct evaluation for occupational therapy. The improving living functions program, analysis of activities based on ICF model, lifestyle redesign program, cognitive exercise therapy, the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT), hospice, and home modification were also organized interventions already in place by occupational therapists. Conclusion : This study showed specific measures and models for the implementation of occupational therapy within community care systems. Occupational therapy is positioned as a specialized area that is essential to the client, and we look forward to the use of this model.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.208-216
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• 2021

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to investigate the status of renal function in patients with COVID-19. The study surveyed a total of 649 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at a hospital located in southern Gyeonggi Province, South Korea over a one month period in January 2021. The parameters analyzed were blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The BUN and creatinine of the COVID-19 patients were found to be higher than the normal reference range, specially in males, and in the elderly (60s and 80s or older). The serum electrolyte levels of the patients were observed to be within the reference intervals. Of the subjects, males over 80 years of age had a Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) of 60 mL/min/1.73 m² or less. Recent research suggests that some severe cases of COVID-19 are showing signs of kidney damage, even in those with no prior underlying kidney disease. Thus, assessment of kidney function using multiple indicators could help diagnose abnormal renal function in patients with COVID-19.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.95-117
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• 2022

This study was conducted as basic research for establishing a mid to long term development plan for libraries in Uiseong-gun, designated as a depopulated area. First, the social, cultural, and environmental characteristics of Uiseong-gun were analyzed and compared with the library infrastructure of depopulation areas similar in size with Uiseong-gun. In addition, a survey was conducted on the perception of users to understand the usage status of libraries, satisfaction with services and improvement plans, non-use factors, and demands for new libraries. Based on this process, the direction of Uiseong-gun library policy was presented. Specifically, four strategic directions for the development of libraries (future orientation, community revitalization, service specialization of the information poor, enhancement of local humanities and spiritual culture) and five key service tasks (building library brand, implementing innovative spaces and services, expanding library functions for improvement of settlement conditions of residents, developing and providing services for the elderly reflecting local characteristics, promoting reading culture) were derived. The proposed core tasks focused on future-oriented library services to overcome the limitations of a population decrease area and develop the potential of Uiseong-gun.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.1265-1272
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• 2020

Objective: We investigated the prevalence of pneumonia in novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients using chest radiographs to identify the characteristics of those with initially negative chest radiographs, who were positive for pneumonia on follow-up. Materials and Methods: Retrospective cohort data of 236 COVID-19 patients were reviewed. Chest radiography was performed on admission, with serial radiographs obtained until discharge. The 'positive conversion group' was defined as patients whose initial chest radiographs were negative but were positive for pneumonia during follow-up. Patients with initially positive chest radiographs were defined as the 'initial pneumonia group.' Patients with negative initial and follow-up chest radiographs were defined as the 'non-pneumonia group.' Clinical and laboratory findings were compared between groups, and predictors of positive conversion were investigated. Results: Among 236 patients, 108 (45.8%) were in the non-pneumonia group, 69 (29.2%) were in the initial pneumonia group, and 59 (25%) were in the positive conversion group. The patients in the 'initial pneumonia group' and 'positive conversion group' were older, had higher C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase levels, and lower absolute lymphocyte counts than those in the 'non-pneumonia group' (all p < 0.001). Among patients with negative initial chest radiographs, age ≥ 45 years (odds ratio [OR]: 3.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.76-8.75, p = 0.001), absolute lymphocyte count < 1500 cells/μL (OR: 2.25, 95% CI: 1.03-4.89, p = 0.041), and CRP > 0.5 mg/dL (OR: 3.91, 95% CI: 1.54-9.91, p = 0.004) were independent predictors for future development of pneumonia. Conclusion: More than a half of COVID-19 patients initially had normal chest radiographs; however, elderly patients (≥ 45 years of age) with abnormal laboratory findings (elevated CRP and low absolute lymphocyte counts) developed pneumonia on follow-up radiographs.